Audio 3:25
Scope of NRL doping investigation narrows

Lexi MetherellUpdated
Wed 20 Mar 2013, 9:54 PM AEDT

The NRL has been under pressure with little information known about the anti-doping investigation. Today it revealed the ASADA investigation has narrowed to a focus on individual players. The NRL says the development provides further clarity about the scope of the anti-doping agency's investigation.

Transcript

MARK COLVIN: The focus of the anti-doping investigation into the NRL has narrowed. Initially, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority was investigating six clubs, but today the NRL revealed that the focus had shifted from clubs to individuals.

ASADA wants to interview 31 current players. But it's still not clear who they are or even which clubs they belong to.

Lexi Metherell reports.

LEXI METHERELL: Clarity is not normally a word associated with ASADA, which is prevented by legislation from revealing very much at all about its investigations. But the NRL is insisting that clarity was what today's announcement was all about.

JOHN GRANT: The objective today is to give you some clarity around certain aspects of this investigation.

DAVE SMITH: The point is what we're trying to give you here is clarity.

LEXI METHERELL: The NRL's message today was that the ASADA investigation has narrowed. The agency has been investigating six NRL clubs.

But the NRL says that apart from its investigation into the Cronulla Sharks, ASADA's focus has shifted away from allegations of club-sanctioned doping. The NRL's chief executive is Dave Smith.

DAVE SMITH: ASADA has informed the NRL that aside from some well documented concerns at Cronulla, its clear focus is now on whether individuals or groups of individuals may have acted outside of club programs. This is not about clubs.

LEXI METHERELL: The NRL has revealed ASADA wants to interview 31 current players and 10 former players. The Australian Rugby League Commission chairman, John Grant.

JOHN GRANT: ASADA is telling us that their investigation is now limited to approximately 30 players inside the NRL competition. It is now, sorry to interrupt, it is now not focused on clubs. And I think that's a great, a very significant point of clarity, it is now not focused on clubs.

LEXI METHERELL: But while the NRL may want to underscore the clarity point it's still far from clear exactly what's going on. It's understood several of the players to be interviewed by ASADA are from Cronulla but the NRL can't confirm that or say who's being interviewed or even what club they're from.

Dave Smith:

DAVE SMITH: It would be entirely inappropriate for me to breach any kind of privacy laws around naming individuals. And that in fact would be against the law. So, and as I've said very clearly, the investigation is moving towards players or groups of players that may, as you'll see in the press, in the statement, that may have done things outside of the club frameworks.

So it would be entirely inappropriate. The focus is not on the clubs. Again, I've made that point. The focus is on 30 players. By me telling you it's approximately 30 players and by me telling you that it's approximately six weeks. And me giving you a broader frame for what we think the extent of the investigation is, is a very significant step forward in the clarity.

LEXI METHERELL: David Garnsey is the chief executive of the Rugby League Players Association.

DAVID GARNSEY: There are uncertainties and unknowns about this investigation which makes it very difficult for anyone to know what the situation is. That's simply the nature of the confidential investigation that ASADA carries out. And while it's tried to say you have to let the investigation run its course, regrettably that's the situation.